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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What location does Dupin claim to want to visit?

2. What could the police hear from outside the Rue Morgue?

3. What does the epigraph introduce?

4. What has been taken from the Rue Morgue after the murders?

5. What is the name of the actor that Dupin remarks on?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dupin feel the motive for the murders is?

2. Describe how Dupin's analytical skills solved the crime.

3. Describe the interview that the laundress gave.

4. What qualities does Dupin believe the killer has?

5. Describe the way the orangutan behaved after killing the women, according to the sailor.

6. Describe the relationship between the laundress and the two murdered women.

7. Why does Dupin believe that the owner of the orangutan is a sailor?

8. Why does Dupin feel disdain for the police investigation of the murders?

9. What elements of the murder appear strange to the reader?

10. Describe the dead body that was found outside.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Dupin solve the murders? What conclusions does he come to?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Dupin to any other character from the story. How are they alike and different? What do each of their actions show?

Essay Topic 3

What kind of story is "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"? How would you describe it to somebody who had not read a mystery short story before?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 641 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample